Center-bearing pin.



I J. M. COLEMAN.

CENTER BEARING PM. APPLICATION FILED APFLH. E917.

Pwmted Feb. 5, 1918.

zp v CENTER-BEARING PIN.

mamas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24., 1917. Serial No. 164,238.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. COLEMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Center-Bearing Pins, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in pins for attaching car trucks to the bodies, and the object of the invention is to provide a pin which will hold the truck to the body in the event of accident.

The device consists essentially of an ordinary pin and a locking means, the pin being adapted for cooperation with the looking means. The locking means is arranged to operate automatically by the force of gravity, so that it will be only necessary to insert the same.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the pin showing the locking means in operative position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the locking means in process of insertion in the pin.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pin showing a slightly alternative form of locking means.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lock shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a further alternative form.

Fig. 6 is an elevation illustrating the ac tion of the locking means when the pin is placed in tension.

Referring more particularly to the drawin gs, 11 designates a pin and 12 the members of a center bearing, such as are used in the connection of car trucks and car body bolsters. The pin is provided with a head 13 and is adapted to be inserted in the center bearing from above. The lower end 14: depends from the center bearing, and is provided with a diametrically disposed slot 15, through which a key 16 may be inserted to hold a washer 17 on the pin. provided at each end with a pivoted head 18, the distribution of material in the heads being such that they will automatically assume the position shown in Fig. 1, by reason of the action of gravity, that is to say,

The key is.

with their edges 19 adjacent the pin in inclined position. The heads are pivotally mounted as previously stated in order that either one of them may be swung into line with the key to enable it to be passed through the key slot 15, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2. The length of key be tween the heads is such that it is necessary for one of the heads to abut the pin in order to permit the other head to swing into normal position. To permit this swinging of the heads, shallow, angularly disposed grooves 20 may be out in the pin leading from the ends of the key slot to the surface of the pin. These grooves are not absolutely necessary, as by using a thicker washer and a longer key, the heads will be able to swing clear of the pin. It will be noted that the outer surface of the washer 17 is frusto-conical, so as to engage the in" clined surfaces 19 of the key heads. The proportioning of the parts is preferably such that when. the washer is down on the key, it will tit snugly between the upper ends of the heads without subjecting them to any appreciable stress, and at the same time will hold the lower ends of the heads against the pin. The heads will thus be prevented from swinging into line with the key and liberating the same. If there is any tendency on the part of the car body and truck to separate, the stress is taken up by the pin, and forces in one direction on the head and in the opposite direction on the washer 17, which is retained by the key 16. Before the washer can escape, it will be necessary for the key to be sheared off at the surface of the pm.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the key 16 in place of passingthrough the pin, is of annular form and surrounds the pin 11. The lower end of the pin is provided with grooves or notches 15 the lower ends of which are perpendicular to the axis of the pin, or preferably pocketed. The key 16 carries pivotally mounted heads 18 in which the material is so distributed that when hanging freely, they will assume the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the key may be slipped up on the end of the pin and when the heads are in alinement with the notches 15, they will enter the notches automatically by the force Patented net. 5, tars..

of gravity. It will be clearly understood that the weight of the washer l7 will tend to keep'these heads constantly in the notches. In order to insure against the heads becoming displaced by vibration, a small set I screw 21 may be provided in the key to enerably perpendicular with the axis of the pin, but may be pocketed. It will be understood that notches such as shown in Fig. 3 may be substituted for the groove, and that the groove may be substituted for the notches of Fig. 3. The heads 18 are integral with the key 16 and formed preferably by bending portions of the key inwardly, as shown, so that the distance between the free extremities of these portions 18 will be less than the diameter of the pin.

The key is preferably made of spring metal, so that it may be forced on from the grooved end of the pin, the head portions 18? being sprung apart during the operation. As soon as the ends of these head portions come in line with the groove 15, they will snap into the groove and hold the key against disconnection from the pin. In the event of a force acting to separate the car body and truck, the pin will be in tension, the force acting in one direction on the head and another force acting in the opposite direction on the washer 17" and tending to drivesame oil the pin. In such an event, the key l6 yields slightly to the movement of the washer until bent to the position shown in Fig. 6. It will now be seen that the head members 18 are inserted equally in the groove 15, and that the key can only be removed by shearing these members at the surface of the pin. It will be understood that the head members l8 may be of suflicient width and. thickness to have a shearing strain almost equal to the strength of the pin head. The same condition applies to the strength of the keys 16 and 16 Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1'. In adevice of the character described,

a pin having a key way, a key for the pin, a washer on the pin engaging said key, and automatically adjustable retaining heads on the key.

2. In a device of the character described, a recessed pin, a washer thereon, a key retaining the washer, and adjustable key retaining heads held by said washer in the pin recesses to hold the key against disconnection from the pin.

3. A device .of the character described, comprising a pin having a key slot therein, a washer, a key in the pin slot retaining said washer, and pivoted retaining heads on the key. it

4. A device of the character described, comprising a pin having a key slot therein, a key adapted for passage in said slot, heads pivotally connected to said key formed to normally assume inclined position and adapted to swing into the line of the key during passage through the key slot, the length of key between said heads being such that one head must be brought into abutment with the pin to release the other head from the pin.

5. In a device of the character described, a pin having a key slot therein, a key in said slot, heads pivotally connected to said key and formed to normally assume positions holding the key against removal from the pin, and a washer slidable on the pin adaptd for engagen'ient between the pin and key heads to hold said heads in key locking position.

6. In a device of the character described, a pin having a recess therein, a key for the pin, and means automatically engageable in the key recess to hold the key against separation from the pin.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto-set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. COLEMAN.

YVitnesses S. R. W. ALLEN, G. N. MoRELANn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner '0: Patents. Washington, I). (1. 

